Police: Woman bites officer, dents police cruiser

WALT GOGOLYA

Published 12:00 am, Thursday, August 25, 2011

MIDDLETOWN - A woman facing disorderly conduct charges became combative and bit a police officer on the arm Tuesday.

Officers were dispatched to 78 Saybrook Road for a report of a bleeding female around 1 p.m. Upon arrival, police saw Ashley Pagano, 24, arguing with an unidentified man. Pagano was holding a garden hoe while the man was holding a brick, police said. The man fled the scene upon police arrival. Pagano said the man was her boyfriend and he fled the scene because he had several arrest warrants on file. Officers searched for the suspect but could not immediately find him. Police planned to charge the man with disorderly conduct when he is found, according to the arrest report.

Pagano told police she had been arguing with her boyfriend and accidentally broke a window as their exchange became heated. When police informed Pagano she would be arrested for disorderly conduct, the situation escalated. She would not allow police to handcuff her and entered a fighting stance, police said.

Pagano began kicking at officers and had to be forced to the ground. As she was falling, she reportedly bit the arresting officer's left arm and drew blood. She continued to resist after being placed in the police cruiser. Pagano allegedly kicked the car so hard she caused a 3-inch dent near the upper trunk line.

She was charged with interfering with an officer, assault on a public safety officer, disorderly conduct and risk of injury.

Due to a lack of criminal record, Pagano was released from custody during her arraignment Wednesday. She is free on a promise to appear back in court Sept. 30.

Walt Gogolya can be reached by e-mail at wgogolya@middletownpress.com. Text MIDNEWS to 22700 to get news alerts directly to your cell phone. Standard messaging and data rates apply.